Planning, Environment and Equality

This is the first event of Victorian Fabians' Spring Series for 2018, and will feature talks by Professor Barbara Norman and Frank McGuire MP, with a special introduction by Fabian Luminary and National Treasure Barry Jones.

Our familiar urban and suburban areas are at the forefront of much of the economic, social and environmental change sweeping Australia.

Challenges arise in an arc of suburbs around Melbourne and other major cities. They are the result of the closure of old industries and changes in employment. Furthermore, the rise of inequality between suburbs contributes to the challenges, where some may become waiting rooms of permanent unemployment and a marginalised existence, with little expectation of the better future that spurred on former generations.

Challenges to planning are also waiting in the wings from the social and physical effects of climate change, whether from increased numbers of people harmed or displaced by drought and flood, or from the struggle to adapt our cities to new land-use, energy and transport imperatives, as food and energy are stretched and the natural environment put under even more pressure.

How can we address these issues so that people can have confidence in the future of the communities in which they live?

Speakers:

Professor Barbara Norman

Barbara Norman is the Foundation Chair of Urban and Regional Planning, and Director of Canberra Urban & Regional Futures (CURF), at the University of Canberra.

She has extensive experience in the public sector at all levels of government. Her research interests include coastal planning, sustainable cities, urban and regional planning, climate change adaptation, and coastal and urban governance.

Barbara's new book 'Sustainable Pathways for our Cities and Regions' looks at the ways in which current planning approaches need to be adapted to embrace concepts such as green growth, planetary boundaries, healthy cities and long-term sustainability.

Frank McGuire MP

Frank McGuire is the Victorian State member for Broadmeadows. As part of an extensive and varied career in politics he has an abiding interest in urban planning. Frank was nominated for the international Metropolis Award for innovation in 2011 for his model for smarter, healthier, better connected and sustainable communities, the Global Learning Village.

He is currently driving for Melbourne's north to become a "Smart City" - an innovation, education and technology hub.

In 2016 he published 'Creating Opportunity: Postcodes of Hope', a blueprint for cultural, generational and systemic change delivering lifelong learning, economic development and jobs.

Not in Melbourne?

This event will be live-streamed on the Australian Fabians Facebook where you can submit questions during the evening and uploaded afterwards to the Fabians Youtube. Subscribe to these pages to catch it from anywhere in Australia or the world.